(1952-) Israeli politician, leader of the Israeli Labour Party since 2005.As a leader of the Jewish labour organization Histadrut Peretz was early on an uncompromising leader, often starting general strikes. He changed this course after a few years, becoming more willing to strike deals.As politician he has been concerned about promoting socialist ideas, yet with a market economy. Among his main concerns has been politics to eradicate child poverty in Israel. He has also been in clear opposition to the coalition between the Labour Party and Likud.Peretz is noted for being willing to go far to reach peace with the Palestine  he is a member of the Peace Now movement. He has remarked that the conflict with the Palestinians has caused a strange division in Israeli politics, where the classes with lower income has supported right-wing parties for nationalist causes, while the Labour Party has become the party of the classes with higher income. Peretz is by many perceived as a possible correction to this, being of the Labour Party and with lower class background.He is also non-Ashkenazi, unlike all prime ministers in Israeli history.He is married to Ahlama, with 4 children.

Biography1952 March 9: Born in Boujad, Morocco as the son of the local head of the Jewish community.1956: Peretz' family emigrates to Israel.1973: Is seriously wounded in the Yom Kippur War and hospitalized for a year.1983: Is elected mayor of the town Sederot, representing the Labour Party.1988: Is elected to the Knesset.1995 December: Becomes chairman of the Histadrut.1999: Forms his own party, One Nation (Am Ehad), which gains 2 seats in the Knesset this year.2003: One Nation wins 3 seats in the Knesset.2004: One Nation merges with the Labour Party.2005 November 9: Is elected leader of the Labour Party, winning 42% of the votes and defeating Shimon Peres, who gets 40%.